BillBlair

All posts tagged BillBlair

Just in Time for Halloween…

Bill C-71, already a work in progress, is slated to be passed into law by the end of 2018. If put in place it will effectively create a new “backdoor gun registry”, to be kept by retailers, itemizing all firearms sales and inventories. “Businesses would have to record dates, references and licence numbers and the firearm’s make, model, type and serial number.” [1] These records would be made available to law enforcement agencies, by way of a warrant, when investigating firearm involved crimes, and must be kept for 20 years by the retailer.

Bill C-71 will also necessarily demand increased background checks on those applying for Possession and Acquisition Licences. An applicant’s entire life history would be laid out and scrutinized for “red flags” prior to approval, not just the preceding 5 years before application, as the law presently requires. The Bill will undoubtedly make it more difficult to obtain and keep a gun licence (P.A.L.) [2]

Furthermore, the Bill aims to restrict transportation of firearms, making it more difficult for gun owners to carry out “certain routine activities, like target shooting, taking a firearm home after a transfer, or going to a gunsmith or a gun show.” The only form of transport to remain unaffected would be the conveyance of a restricted firearm to and from a certified shooting range. All other transportation of restricted firearms would require that a Authorization to Transport (A.T.T.) document be obtained. [3]

Bill C-71 also aims to immediately reclassify as ‘Prohibited’ between 10,000 – 15,000 legally purchased and owned rifles, including many specifically used for hunting purposes (such as the CZ 858 and Swiss Arms). Many of these firearms cost in excess of $4,000, the cost of which will not be reimbursed by government agencies. Owners of newly prohibited firearms could face 10 years in prison if they fail to comply with new ownership requirements. The government, to date, has not outlined any plan to notify these owners when the changes take effect. [4]

A “review” on a restricted (i.e. handgun) ban in Canada is also currently underway. The ban is spearheaded by former RCMP M.P. Bill Blair and targets law abiding gun-owners. “The Canadian government’s possible ban on handguns and semi-automatic long guns such as the SKS, the AR-15 and the FN-FAL rifles” could result in the confiscation of over $2 billion worth of guns and equipment from private Canadian gun owners. [5]“Blair’s main goal seems to be to keep a lid on the gun conversation over the next year… not giving the Conservatives any ammunition (pardon the pun) for a revival of the old gun debates of the 1990’s” [6] before the Liberals seek reelection.

Rest assured, if the Liberal’s attain another majority government on October 21st, 2019, the stripping of Canadian’s firearms and freedoms will be foremost on their agenda once again. Bill C-71 is the thin end of a very large wedge, which, when pounded down people’s throats, will make our present day restrictions seem like a memory of heaven.

Do your part: join the NFA, Sign petitions or write your M.P. And buy The Bill C-71 Book: What it Means, How It Hurts You, and 3 Easy Steps You Can Take Right Now To Block It, [7] and read it well.